Pack Monadnock 06-4-2006

From Dave Dunham

Kelli Lusk took advantage of the excellent conditions to set a new course record on the hilly 8 miles and mountainous 2 miles of the Wilton to summit of Pack Monadnock race. Lusk (CMS) won by nearly five minutes in the rain/drizzle and 55 degree temperatures to break Margo Webbers course record by over one minute with a 14th place overall finish of 1:13:35.

Paul Low (CMS) was the winner on the men’s side, running comfortably throughout and only picking up the pace during the final two miles of climbing. Low topped a field of 173 runners who seemed much happier running in temperatures 30 degrees cooler than last year. Randy MacNeil (Coastal) and Dave Dunham (CMS) had a close race for second place. MacNeil was over 30 seconds up with 3 miles to go and 1,200’ to climb. Dunham caught MacNeil on the final steep pitch as MacNeil walked, then regrouped to pass Dunham in the final 50 meters. They ran the third and fourth fastest times ever for a 40+ runner, trailing only the incredible sub-61 times that Craig Fram ran in 2001 and 2002.

Mark Asaro was the 50+ champion in 1:14:34, taking the victory by four minutes and running the fourth fastest 50+ time ever. Stanley Dutton topped the 60+ category in 1:21:34, the fourth fastest 60+ time ever.

The women’s 40+ age group was topped by Suzy West (CSU), who also finished second overall. Suzy’s time of 1:18:41 was two seconds shy of her course record for 40+ set in 2003. Kathy Maddock was third overall and second 40+ with the fifth best 40+ time ever (1:20:23). Of the top ten women, eight were in the 40+ age group. Sin Koulas was the 50+ women’s champion in 1:35:22 and Heidy McGaffican was top finisher in the 60+ age group with a course record (by 11 minutes) 1:44:59.

Circuit notes:

Kelli Lusk leads the ladies with 199.15 points. and Suzy West is second overall. West also leads the 40+ age group with 180.91 points. West’s masters teammates Donna Smyth and Nixie Raymond of the Cambridge Sports Union trail her by 11 and 14 points respectively.

Paul Low leads the men with a perfect 200 points, with CMS teammate Rob Smith 27 points back in second. Dave Dunham (also of CMS) leads the 40+, and is in second overall with 185.53 points. Dave Audet of NMC is 15 points back in the 40+. Just 5 points separate the 50+ top trio of Paul Bazanchuk (GSH), Bob Mulvaney (PR Moose Milers), and Richard Stockdale (Gate City). Peter Orni (CMS) leads the 60+ with 137.8 points, 9 points up on Charles Johns (SQRR).

Emer O’Donoghue continues her incredible streak of 26 mountain circuit finishes dating back to 2001, and Richard MacDonald leads the men with 14 consecutive finishes. Donna Smyth continues to lead the overall circuit (1996 to present) with 30 finishes and 2,580.95 points. Fred Ross III moved ahead of Eldon Burkinshaw for the most male finishes with 36, and series founder Dave Dunham continues to lead the point totals with 3,348.46 and is tied for second with 35 finishes.

A total of 39 runners have completed both races in the six race series. The best five results are totaled for prizes at the end of the series. The series next heads to Western MA for the La Sportiva GoLite Northfield Mountain 10.3K on June 10.